The Role of different Gods and Goddesses 4a) Opening: My quote talks about the decisions Zeus made to protect and solidify his position as a god. I also bring up the point of how the worshippers of Zeus responded in a very unique way. My quote originates from ''http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/athena.html''. 4b) Quote: Athena, the goddess of wisdom and military victory, and also the patron of the city of Athens, was Hercules' half-sister. Her parents were Zeus and Metis, a nymph. Zeus heard a prophecy that the child Metis bore after she gave birth to Athena would become the lord of heaven, so, to prevent this from happening, he swallowed Metis while she was still pregnant with Athena.When the time came for Athena to be born, the smith god, Hephaistos, opened Zeus' head with an axe, and Athena stepped out, in full armor. The birth of Athena was a favorite topic of Greek vase painters." 4c) Analyze: This quote provides a lot of insight on Greek practices. If you were going to war, Athena would be the person you'd pray to before. After the war, regardless of the outcome, you would pray to Athena. This quote sums up the life that Greek people lived. They all worked together to accomplish a common goal. But what's really intriguing about this quote and the religion, is that they identify and accept that the gods and goddesses make mistakes. In most religions, the god or gods are made out to be perfect. Such is not the case with the Greek religion. With accepting that the gods aren't even perfect, comes a sense of understanding and forgiving that isn't common in religions. ''Zeus heard a prophecy that the child Metis bore after she gave birth to Athena would become the lord of heaven, so, to prevent this from happening, he swallowed Metis while she was still pregnant with Athena." Usually, this would automatically make a god/ religious power holder unqualified for the position. But the Greek people seen past that continue to see Zeus for who he was. 4d) Final thoughts: This quote shows diversity between the Greek religion and other religions.Diversity matters because at the time where Greek religions and practices were common, the world was young. Diversity gave everyone that believed in Zeus as a god and chance to think of him like they wanted too. But they would continue to have respect and pray to him. 5) 5a) Opening: My upcoming quote is about a Mithras god by the name of Phanes. It explains the role of this god and it's appearance. 5b) Quote: ''PHANES was the Protogenos (primeval god) of procreation in the Orphic cosmogony. This is generator of life, the driving force behind reproduction in the early cosmos. Phanes was usually shown with golden wings and wrapped in snake coils. Phanes was neither male nor female but hermaphroditic." 5c) Analyze: This quote also explains the unique godly figures the Mithras people supported and worshipped. Negative judgement just wasn't as big as it is now. If you wanted to produce babies, you would pray to Phanes before you started the process. Also, once you had the baby, you would pray to Phanes again to make sure. This goddess being a hermaphroditic, makes the quote. She can connect with either sex and she also understands what both sexes go through physically. This is another way to simply help people feel more comfortable talk and believing in her. 5d) Final thoughts: This god is interesting. This type of god wouldn't be accepted in many religions today because this god isn't a male or female so people wouldn't understand how to treat her. She would be labeled as "un-pure" or "unnatural".
6a) Opening: My quote speaks on a god that played a significant role in everyone's life during the Greek time. 6b) Quote: "Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. The first loaf of bread from the harvest is sacrificed to her. Demeter is the goddess of the earth, of agriculture, and of fertility in general. Sacred to her are livestock and agricultural products, poppy, narcissus and the crane." 6c) Analyze: Back then, there wasn't a such thing as surviving without harvesting. It was something everyone understood they had to do. But like most people back then and now, humans needed help. Demeter was the god to go too. You wanted to keep Demeter happy so your family could eat. You gave her the first of any food you harvested. If you didn't, you were granted back luck for the rest of the year. 6d) Final thoughts: It amazes how much respect the people had for the gods. Now, it's like people will turn and twist the word of god to the standards they believe it should be. Everyone followed the harvesting rule so they could survive another year. No fight. No greediness. None of that.
7a) Opening: My last goddess from the Greek time is very interesting. Her name is very modern and she would be very popular today just as she was back then http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/explore-mythology/greek-gods.aspx 7b) Quote: "Nike was very popular, since everybody wanted victory. Olympic athletes would sacrifice to her, as would soldiers before a big battle. Nike would sometimes serve as Athena’s charioteer in battle. After all, the goddess of victory is pretty much the best wheelman you can ask for." 7c) Analyze:Nike. Such an ironic name for this goddess. Everyone wanted her on their side. Some would sacrifice food and some would sacrifice a body part just to solidify good standing with Nike. She is the most modern goddess I've read about. I just like her mentality and everything she stands for. 7d) Final thoughts: I'm usually not a fan of complex god worshipping. But after reading about these two religions. I'm a supporter of it. I support it because it keeps you consistently learning about something you believe in, it keeps you interested, and it helps you spread the word about the religion
4a) Opening: My quote talks about the decisions Zeus made to protect and solidify his position as a god. I also bring up the point of how the worshippers of Zeus responded in a very unique way. My quote originates from ''http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/athena.html''.
4c) Analyze: This quote provides a lot of insight on Greek practices. If you were going to war, Athena would be the person you'd pray to before. After the war, regardless of the outcome, you would pray to Athena. This quote sums up the life that Greek people lived. They all worked together to accomplish a common goal. But what's really intriguing about this quote and the religion, is that they identify and accept that the gods and goddesses make mistakes. In most religions, the god or gods are made out to be perfect. Such is not the case with the Greek religion. With accepting that the gods aren't even perfect, comes a sense of understanding and forgiving that isn't common in religions. ''Zeus heard a prophecy that the child Metis bore after she gave birth to Athena would become the lord of heaven, so, to prevent this from happening, he swallowed Metis while she was still pregnant with Athena." Usually, this would automatically make a god/ religious power holder unqualified for the position. But the Greek people seen past that continue to see Zeus for who he was.
4d) Final thoughts: This quote shows diversity between the Greek religion and other religions.Diversity matters because at the time where Greek religions and practices were common, the world was young. Diversity gave everyone that believed in Zeus as a god and chance to think of him like they wanted too. But they would continue to have respect and pray to him.
5)
5a) Opening: My upcoming quote is about a Mithras god by the name of Phanes. It explains the role of this god and it's appearance.
5b) Quote: ''PHANES was the Protogenos (primeval god) of procreation in the Orphic cosmogony.
This is generator of life, the driving force behind reproduction in the early cosmos. Phanes was usually shown with golden wings and
5c) Analyze: This quote also explains the unique godly figures the Mithras people supported and worshipped. Negative judgement just wasn't as big as it is now. If you wanted to produce babies, you would pray to Phanes before you started the process. Also, once you had the baby, you would pray to Phanes again to make sure. This goddess being a hermaphroditic, makes the quote. She can connect with either sex and she also understands what both sexes go through physically. This is another way to simply help people feel more comfortable talk and believing in her.
5d) Final thoughts: This god is interesting. This type of god wouldn't be accepted in many religions today because this god isn't a male or female so people wouldn't understand how to treat her. She would be labeled as "un-pure" or "unnatural".
6a) Opening: My quote speaks on a god that played a significant role in everyone's life during the Greek time.
6b) Quote: "Demeter is the goddess of corn, grain, and the harvest. She is the daughter of Cronus and Rhea. It is Demeter that makes the crops grow each year. The first loaf of bread from the harvest is sacrificed to her. Demeter is the goddess of the earth, of agriculture, and of fertility in general. Sacred to her are livestock and agricultural products, poppy, narcissus and the crane."
6c) Analyze: Back then, there wasn't a such thing as surviving without harvesting. It was something everyone understood they had to do. But like
6d) Final thoughts: It amazes how much respect the people had for the gods. Now, it's like people will turn and twist the word of god to the standards they believe it should be. Everyone followed the harvesting rule so they could survive another year. No fight. No greediness. None of that.
7a) Opening: My last goddess from the Greek time is very interesting. Her name is very modern and she would be very popular today just as she was back then
http://www.rickriordan.com/my-books/percy-jackson/explore-mythology/greek-gods.aspx
7b) Quote: "Nike was very popular, since everybody wanted victory. Olympic athletes would sacrifice to her, as would soldiers before a big battle. Nike would sometimes serve as Athena’s charioteer in battle. After all, the goddess of victory is pretty much the best wheelman you can ask for."
7c) Analyze: Nike. Such an ironic name for this goddess. Everyone wanted her on their side. Some would sacrifice food and some would sacrifice a body part just to solidify good standing with Nike. She is the most modern goddess I've read about. I just like her mentality and everything she stands for.
7d) Final thoughts: I'm usually not a fan of complex god worshipping. But after reading about these two religions. I'm a supporter of it. I support it because it keeps you consistently learning about something you believe in, it keeps you interested, and it helps you spread the word about the religion
Sources:
http://greekmythology.wikia.com/wiki/Phanes
http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/mithras/display.php?page=main#Mithras_and_other_gods
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Herakles/athena.html